Knockdown shipping-crate.



EEST AVILBLE COPY W. A. SAPLEY.

KNOGKDOWN SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLIQATION FILED PEB. ze, 1912.

1,044,251. y Patented'N0v.12,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.V

W. A. SAPLBY.y KNOCKDOWN SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1912. 11,044,251 Patent-ea Nov. 12, 1912.

2 SHEETS- SHEET z.

-wrmran'a earner, oli' remmer, iowa.

wooknown SHIPPING-CRATE. 3 i

' To all'iliom'z't may concern,

Beitknown tliatll, WLIJiM A.' Sari-nr' a citizen of the United States, residing' at Bedford, in the county oaf-'Taylor and' State of "Iowa,

to which it appertaims to -inake Yand use the saine.

This inventionV relates to` improvements in .linockdown shipping crates.

a .shipping'cra'te :tor live 'stock or. poultry,-l

orrned entirely of metal and constructed of a plurality' o'Se'CtiOns yadapted to be detachably'- connected together' whereby the.

saine may be readily separated and closely packed together'to acilitatethe retnrn' shipji'nent and storing 'of the empty crate.

Ano-ther Objectis to provide `anfimproved l means-for fastening the end members of'the `crate imposition whereby if"desired said. astening'nieans may be vemployed as hinge' members' for pivotally or hingedlyconnectvinglth'e ends offthe cratelJ said endsy thus forming doors wliiclrmay ,be swungl togopen orclosedpositlona,

With these and other objec-tsin view, the xinvention cons1sts`of cer'tainnovel features 'of consosuc'tlon,l and the combination andaangelent of partsv as will be more 'fully described and-"Claimed, y

In the accompanying drawings; Fig-ure l= is a `perspective view of my improved crate showin the same set up in position for use and indicating in dotted flineslthe manner in which the ends are disconnected from their ripper fastening devices to permit the t ends tov be removed; Fig. 2 is .a 1side view of one end of the crate showing in dottedlines` the manner' inwhich the ends are swung outwardly when hingedjto form' doors 5 tFig. 3 is 'an enlarged detail sectional view through `the bottom' of the crate' taken on the line of Fig. 2; andsliovving the manner in which the supporting 'standards or bars of the: sides vof the'crate arejengaged 'with the have invented certain new andusejul Inx'qprovements 'in Knoc'kdown Siliippingf yand exactdescriptin Loff 4the invention, such -will enable. 4others skilledin the art,

. iron bott-oni frame sides of the angle' iron bottom frame-'of the crate; Fig. .4f 1s a similar view' 'en the line Llc-4' of Eiga 2 showing the manner 1ny which' tem 4'iframe of the crate lof the frame,

otally' connect-ed' 'to the 'ends ofthe crate; Fig' 1s a plan 'view of 'the angle iron 'botwith partsv broken 'away and in. section; Fig. 6 `isl a vertical eross sectional view of a slightlymod/ied form 4or arranger-nent or the vcrate' wherein the' same is adapted'for transporting poultry ori-very'sma-ll: stock.

spee'iacaeoa oigrlei'tersirafeue* 'patentd Nm', 12 *1912 2, Application mea repruaryea, 1912i seria-1 Ng.

My improvedirate-comprisesv an angle.-

seotions', the adjoining ends ofwhich' are 'secrirely fastened together. by splicing bars 2" which are' riveted or otherwise. rigidly se projecting .flanges 'of cured to, the' upwardly 1- which is preferably constructed 1n two right .angularly formed .the frame as. clearly shown in Frg. 5 of the( L drawings. To vthe lower or horizontallanges .of .the angle iron bttoln" .frameis riveted or otherwise secured. a ybottom'plate 3. In.

the jupwardly extending anges of the sides at the; ends thereofand' at. .equi distant points between :the ends are formed slots 4. l

The sides 5 of the crate.comprise'aseries Y ywith which'lareengaged a lseries' of vertically vdisposed Channel iron bars or standards 6 whichv are yarranged as shown in. 'Fig'. l' of the' drawing and have in .their base 'or bottom sides a series ofpassages 7 of longitudinz'illy'disposed rods 8 the ends of which j project through the passages 7- in' theend bars or standards and are upsetl or clenchedinto engagement with the outer surfaces' or" the 'base or bottom sides of 'said standards. as shown. The rods 8 'when tliiis;

'fastened vare securely lield'against longitudinal movement 1n. tthe bars 6. Any number of'rods 3 may be" employed and said rods may be spaced apart at any desired distance.

.On the upper'ends of the standards' 6 re' formed right angular apertured lugs 9 which 'preferably project in th direction'shown in. Fig; 1. and' to which arerivet'e'dor otherwise secured' an 'upper standard `connecting bar l0. The lower ends of the'standards @have formed thereon hooks 'l'iv'lii'ch are adapted to be'det-achably engaged with theslots 4 in the upwardly projecting flange of tlieside'f,

'inembersxo't the base frame 'l as' clearly shown in Eig-8 o the drawings. The ends of the upper bars'lO extend a 'suitable dis` tance beyond the upper ends of the end".

standards 6 and said projecting ends of the bars l() are provided with pin holes 12 vwhich aline with similar holes in pin receiving brackets 13 secured to the end standards .j a suitable distance below the projecting ends ofthe bars as shown. On the outer end portions of the standards 6 nearthe frame 1 are secured aperture'd end support-ing brackets 14 which together with the rackets '18 and thel projecting ends of the bars 12 form part of the means for holding the ends of the crate in position.

The end members 15 ofthe crate comprise rectangular frames, the bottom and Asidev pieces of which are preferably formed from a flat strip or bar of metal bent as shown.

-The upper ends of the sides of thet'ranie are bent inwardly -to form right angular Ylugs 1.6 to which are riveted or otherwise secured the top bars 17 of the frames said bars 'having their ends projecting beyond the Asides of the frame and provided with apertures to ireceive the upper end fastening devices' hereinafter described. The apertured projecting ends of the upper bars 17 .extend f beneath the projecting ends of the standard connecting bars 10 of the sides of the crate and through the alined apertures in said projecting endsof the bars l0 and 17 are inserted fastening pins 18, the lower ends of which engage the apertures in the brackets 13 `and thereby securely fasten the upper. ends of the end members to the sides of the crate. Arranged across and having `their ends clenched or otherwise ,rigidly secured in the sides of the end fra-mes are a series of lrods 15a which are spaced a suitable distance -to correspond with the rods 8 of the side Amembers ofl the crate.

The lower ends of the end members l5 are securedtol the ends of the side members by'short connecting rods 19 the inner por tions of which are engaged with the apertures 20 in the sides and bottom portion of the frame and the inner ends of the rods are bent at right angles for passing through the apertures 20 in the bottom of the end frames thereby securely clenching or fastening the rods to the end members. `The outer or projecting portions of the rods are bent downwardly at an-obliqueangle and then 4mediate cross bars 24, said bars 24 being arranged edgewise across the crate and hay-F have their ends or extremities bentjdown-I wardly or oiiset as shown in Fig. 1, said oil'- set ends ot the bars being engaged between the ends ot' the bars 17 of the end :trames and the projecting ends of the bars 10 of the side frames. Vhen thus arranged the pins 18 are passed through said apertured oiset ends of the bars 28, thereby securely fastening the ends of the top to the side and end members ofthe frame. When the top 22 is thus arrangedthe ends of the intermediate cross bars'24 thereof will project between the top bars 10 of the sides of the frame and the upper rods 8 of said sides adjacent to the upper ends of the intermediate standards 6 ot' the side, said upper rods 8 and bars 10 ot the sides thus supporting and holding the bars 24 in position to support the inter mediate portion of the top 22.

1n Fig. 6 of the vdrawings is shown a` slightly modified construction and arrangement of the crate wherein the same is adapted for shipping poultry or very small live stock. In arranging the crate for this purpose, a licor or horizontal partition 27 is arranged therethrough midway between the top and bottom of the crate, said partition being secured to the side and end members of the crate in any suitable manne-r. lVhen the crate is arranged as shown inFig. 6 for the purpose of shipping poultry or small animals, the sides, ends and'top thereof are provided with a lining 28 of wire netting which is secured to the sides, ends and top of the crate in any suitable manner and has a mesh sufficiently smallto prevent the es cape of the poultry or small animals to ba shipped in the crate.

By connecting the ends of the crate to thfe side members thereof as herein shown and described, the ends may be readily removed or arranged to form hinged doors by first removing the pins 18, thus disconnecting the projecting upper ends of the upper bars 17 of the frames whereupon the upper poi'- tion of the frame may be swung outwardly by reason of the loose connection between the pins 21 in the lower ends of the frames and the apertures in tliy'e brackets 14. The frames when thus swung outwardly a suii- "cient extentv to clear the projecting ends of the bars 10 of the side frames may be lifted, thus disengaging the pin 21 from the apertures in the brackets 14 and permitting the ends to be entirely removed or it desired,

one of the pins 21 may be again engaged with its lug 24 and the rejecting end o t the topbars of the fra e above-said connecting' pin may be again placed beneath and in position to beengaged bythe pm 18,

Loa/nasi thnshingedlyuconnecting the end member` to permit the same to be swung toan open orl Vclosed position. in taking the crate to pieces tor the pupose'of closely packing the parts, the ends are' rst removed in themanner described, after which the top may bei readily removed by disengaging' 'the 'endsf of the bars 2 3 and 2li from the bars' l0 of the sides, after 'which thehqoked lowerendsl-ot 'the ystandards6 of the=sid`es may be' disen. gaged'trom, the slots 4in thesidesl'of the angle iron bottom frame. After 'the` parts have been; thus disconnected they inay "be packedtogether and placedin or'onthe bottom ofthe crate and bound or. fastened' together in,any suitable manner for packing 1or shipping.

From the'forego'ing description taken in connection with the accdmpanying dra-twings, 'the with `tio Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of -const-rsction'mayf be resortedto without departingt tromthel principle or sacrificing-any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

aving thus described my'inventiomwhat 'caimis'; v i. A knockdown crate comprising a bottom consisting of anl angle iron'trame havout, requiring a' more extended .explainsf ing. in the 'upwardly projecting flangesv oi?,-

the side bars thereoh ai series of slots, a" metal bottom of the frame, side members comprisinga series of standards having onitheir 'lower v ends hooks adapted .to-be engaged with' the slotsy in ythe flanges ot" t-be side lba'rsof the of the standards, standard connecting' bars secured' to said lugs, 'a series "of longitudi-- nally disposed' spaced rods arranged throughand secured I'in said-standardd'end members comprising frames having secured therein a series-of spaced rods, means to detachably andhingedly connect said end members to theends of ,the sidefmembers, and a top com rising Aa seriesof transverse bars having t eir endsengaged with and supported by said side and end'members, anda series of longitudinal rods arranged through and securedl to said .transverse bars.

2.4 A knockdown crate comprising a bottom consisting of a rectangular angle iron frame formed in right angular sections, having their adjoining ends spliced together -t-o form said trame, a sheet metal bottom secured to said. bottom frame,- side members 60 comprising aseries" of channel iron stand-" ards having' on their lower ends, hooks adapted to be detachably engaged with the angle iron. side bars of the bottom frame,

'the construction and 'operation of nvention will ybefreadilyunderstood Y secured to the .bottomflanges frame, aperturedA lugs on the upper. ends'. 'l y end members comprising rectangulanfrI mes 105 aperturedlugs on the upper ends of bars, a series of longitudinally disposed rods e5 `spaced Vapart and secured insaid standards, connecting bars secured to the* lugs' on4 the upper 'nd's of saifdfstandards, said' .upper bars be 1g of suiicient length to-proje'ctlbei yond the `end`standards 'otl the sitles,; end 7u members comprising rectangular frames, the upper bars" of which project beyond the sides ci the 'frame and are. ada" ted to' be disposed beneath the projecting' e `ds`. of`.the` .top b'ai's of the 'side members, spaced rods "75 'secured insaid .end frames, means to secure then lower ends of"the\ end frames to the adjacentends of the 'side'l members, a' top member comprising end'bars having' their,

ends engagedbetween lthe projecting ends 80 the crate together: 9G, '34 fr. knockdpwn crate cqmprisin a b ottom,' sidemembers compri'smg a lurality"- of standards having, a detachable' connection at their lower lends' with said, bottom,stand' I and' l:c onnectlng bars secured tofthe upper 95 .endsl of said 'standardsand'projecting'b ybnd t-he ends. of the side members, said pro- "jecting endsff the standard-connecting bars having apertures," al plurality'- of rods ar?" ranged 'throu'gbvsaid 'standards,' upper and 160.

lower apertured brackets secured' 'to' .the

.outer'standards' ot the side members -belo'w te projecting ,ends of the 'connecting bars' t erect-l and above'thc bottom of ltheo ate, j

having'their upper cross bars projecting beyond the side-bars of the frame vand adapt ed to vibe' ,engaged beneath the projecting l endsyof vthe connecting barsvof--the standards; f of theside members','saidprjecting ends' of 110 the upper bars of the end members having 'apert`ures, a series of ,spaced rodsarranged in said end frames, c :onnectint'g` rods having their inner ends-engaged 'withand fastened in the side nd bottom bars of .said end .115*

frames, the projecting ends vof said rods being bent downwardly to form pins adaptA ed to be-loosely engaged with'the apertured brackets on. the lower portiono the standards of the side members, .a top member 1 20 comprising outer and intermediate -transverse bars, said outer, transverse bars having their ends engaged betweenthe projectingl 'ends-of the top bars of. thev side and enc members of the crate, longitudinal rods ar- 125 H'ranged through and secured tothe transverse bars of said-top member, and pins adapted tobe inserted through the engaging lnols of the bars of thesid'e, end land top set. myhand in presence of two subscribing,

members of the crate and intoengagement Witnesses. Withthe upper brackets on the -standards of the side members whereby `seid membersfof .WILLIAM A' SAFLEY' 5 the crate are detechably and hingedly con- WVltessesy l l nected together.l A v NELLE A. FLICH,

- In `testimony' whereof' I have hereunto P. LONG. 

